Typhoon Parma - West Pacific

Chart Courtesy of Hong Kong Observatory - Typhoon Parma at 08:00 HKT 30 September 2009 Tracking Tropical Storm Parma

A severe tropical storm has formed in the Western Pacific Ocean. As of this initial posting, the storm is located approximately 160 NM Northeast of Palau. It has been upgraded to a typhoon based on intensity estimates. A typhoon is a tropical storm with sustained winds in excess of 119 km/h or approximately 74 mph. If this storm were in the Atlantic, it would be called a hurricane.

As a service to my clients and blog readers we will provide updates on this storm as details become available. We have also provided links to useful websites for tracking this potentially dangerous storm.

If necessary, ship advisories will be posted in this blog post. For anyone traveling in the Western Pacific Ocean, we suggest that you closely monitor this and the other tropical storms that are currently active in that region.

HKO UPDATE: Typhoon 19w (parma) located approximately 200 nm north-northeast of Manila, Philippines, has tracked northwestward at 12 knots over the past six hours. The system is currently approaching the northeastern tip of Luzon, Philippines and is expected to make landfall in the next 6 hours before moving back over water in the Luzon Strait.

Live Cruise Ship and Ocean Liner Tracking:
<Interactive tracking map> See where ships are relative to tropical storms.

Typhoon Tracking - Useful Links

Typhoon PARMA Advisory Package

Hong Kong Observatory (Tropical Cyclone Track)

WMO Severe Weather Information Centre

Joint Typhoon Warning Center

NRL Monterey Marine Meteorology Division (Code 7500) Tropical Cyclone Page

Tropical RAMSDIS Online (Satellite Images)

HurricaneZone.net

Chart Converting Zulu Time to Local Time

Example: 301500Z = 11:00 AM EDT on the 30th

Tropical storms pose a threat to land and sea. Cruise ships closely monitor the progress of storms and take the necessary actions to remain safe. Safety of passengers and crew are the number one priority for each cruise line.

This severe storm will be monitored until it is no longer a threat.

Crystal Cruises 20th Anniversary Offers

Crystal Cruises Announces Anniversary Offers

Crystal Cruises marks an exciting milestone in 2010 as they celebrate their 20th year of award-winning luxury travel. Crystal Cruises' 2010 program includes sailings to 174 ports in 70 countries on 62 voyages. Select from exotic destinations such as the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Most voyages are 11-13 days in length, but there are others ranging from less thatn 10 days to 115 days. See itineraries HERE.


Now is the time to explore the world with Crystal and take advantage of the never-before-offered 20th Anniversary Gifts carefully designed for a luxurous experience onboard the ships that have been Voted World's Best by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazine more than any other cruise line, hotel or resort in history.

20th Anniversary Offers:

• New 2-for-1 Fares on all voyages
• “All-Inclusive. As You Wish.” Spending Credits on all voyages
• Free Business or Economy Class Air on most voyages
• Price Guarantee on all voyages
• And more!
  

Contact me for complete details, terms, and conditions. This is only the "tip of the iceberg" as the saying goes. Just to wet your appetite some more .... consider sailing on your birthday ...

Sail on your birthday in 2010 and Crystal Cruises will give you the gift of 50% savings (25% single occupancy) on a future cruise before your next birthday! Birthday cruise must be booked by December 31, 2009.

World's Largest Cruise Night - Save the Date

October is National Cruise Vacation Month

October is National Cruise Vacation Month, and October 14, 2009 is the fifth-annual World’s Largest Cruise Night (WLCN) – an event that focuses on the pleasures of cruising.

Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) has organized this event with it's member cruise lines and member agencies. This is your opportunity to learn more about cruising and the individual cruise lines as well as take advantage of several special offers that are valid for either one day or the entire month.

Continue to watch this column for more information about my participation in this annual event. We will have a web page devoted to WLCN which will point you to video links and provide information about the various cruise line offers.

There is no need to get dressed up to go to a meeting hall. Simply turn on your computer and participate in a virtual cruise night. You can participate any time during the month of October, but the early bird will get the worm so to speak.

Become a fan on Facebook and I'll provide you with the link September 30th or come back to this site on October 1st for all the details.

Tropical Storm Nora Forms in Pacific

TROPICAL STRORM NORA

FORMS IN PACIFIC

NO THREAT TO LAND

Graphic courtesy of NOAA (Nora) 2 AM PDT Wed 9/23

(click for updated map and additional information)

The 14th tropical storm of the season has formed in the Pacific. The storm is 645 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. It is moving slowly and current wind speed is 40 MPH.

As a service to my clients and my blog readers, we'll provided continual updates on tropical storms and any cruise line advisories that are posted. For convenience, RSS feeds are also added so that you can get up-to-date information between posts. <NHC Active Storms>

200 AM PDT WED SEP 23 2009...THE 14TH TROPICAL STORM OF THE SEASON FORMS... NO THREAT TO LAND...

UPDATE: 200 AM PDT FRI SEP 25 2009... NORA NOW A REMNANT LOW...THIS IS THE LAST ADVISORY...

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH... 55 KM/HR... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST IN THE NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS. .

This post will track Tropical Storm Nora until it is no longer tracked by the NHC.

Local Weather Statements

<more details> <click for updated chart><NWS - Local Weather><NASA Hurricane Tracking>

Cruise Ship Tropical Storm Updates:

<CARNIVAL> <Norwegian Cruise Line> <Royal Caribbean>

It is too early for cruise line advisories on this storm, but you may want to bookmark this post for future reference.

Live Cruise Ship and Ocean Liner Tracking:

<Interactive tracking map> See where ships are relative to tropical storms.

Cruise lines will stay clear of any danger, as safety of passengers and crew are their top priority. We will update this post as any new information is released.

Now is Time to Plan Your Next Cruise

Today I want to call your attention to three cruise sales featured in my current newsletter.

Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean International have teamed up with our company to offer our clients amazing deals that make now the right time to plan your next cruise vacation.

15% Off Shore Excursions when you book a Carnival Caribbean Cruise

Available now through 9/22/09.

PLUS: Free Upgrades on select sailings.

Carnival Sale Details

Norwegian Cruise Line's NOW Sale

Up to $250 Onboard Credit

PLUS: 50% Reduced Deposit

NCL Sale Details

Book a Royal Caribbean Mediterranean Cruise

15% Off Shore Excursions!

Available now through 9/22/09.

PLUS: Book a Balcony or above andreceive a FREE Spa Treatment!

Royal Caribbean Sale Details

Click on the links above to get more details on these offers. Don't miss offers like these in the future, make sure to signup for my weekly eSavers Newsletter.

Where is Chris - Featured Destination Sept 09

It’s a gorgeous morning where I am. The sun is shining, and the trees are gently swaying in the warm breeze. Back home, the wind is howling and the snow is blowing. I am very thankful that I am here.

Where is Chris? I’m not going to tell you right away. Close your eyes and imagine you are standing next to me while I paint a picture of what I saw today and we will see if you can figure it out.

Arriving early in the embarkation port ...

I decided to fly in a few days early before my cruise started to visit a city I had heard about but never visited. It is a diverse city and inexpensive to explore and enjoy. There is plenty of entertainment, places to see and things to do. You will not be disappointed in exploring it.

Exploring the neighborhoods ...

The first thing I do after breakfast is get a map of the city. With a map, I can plot out what I want to see without wandering and getting lost. The city is divided into neighborhoods and each one has a map of the things to visit in their area. I decided to just explore some of the neighborhoods since there is another destination that I want to see before my cruise starts.

Exploring Microcentro...

You will spend plenty of time in this part of the city since it is the hub of the government, banks, services and everything that makes this city tick. The area’s defining feature, that connects two neighborhoods, is the pedestrian thoroughfare that is crowded by day with shoppers and at night the performance artists thrill tourists and locals alike.

The biggest attraction/destination is situated in an old restored building that houses valuable and artistic murals. It offers an extensive list of choices – stores of fashionable clothes, leather articles, books, jewelry, souvenirs and many more things. It has movie theatres and a graceful dining area offering all types of options. It also houses a famous Ballet School.

Exploring a classy neighborhood ...

Another classier neighborhood is lined with handsome apartment buildings and is home to fine shops, art galleries and restaurants. This neighborhood grew up around an area that covers 4 square blocks and has one of the city’s most visited attractions. The ancestors of the city’s aristocracy are buried here. The Recoleta Cemetery is a virtual crypt city of tall and elaborate tombs and mausoleums. The monument most people seek out is the simple dark marble crypt belonging to the wife of the dictator Juan Peron and the heroine of the city’s working class- Eva Peron.

Where am I ?

If you haven’t figured out by now, the city I am spending a few days in is Buenos Aires, Argentina. Buenos Aires is either the starting point or is in the middle of various cruises. Some of these cruises sail around the tip of South America and end in Valparaiso, Chile.

It is the capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southern shore of the Rio de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent. It has a population of around 13 million and is considered the richest city in South America and the Southern Hemisphere.

Time for you to continue the exploration ...

Let me help you plan a cruise vacation to South America which starts or ends in Buenos Aires. Extend your stay before or after the cruise so that you can visit the many diverse neighborhoods of this city on your own. I have selected a couple itineraries that you might consider in February, 2010.

Select from these Celebrity Infinity Cruises or contact me for other choices ...

14-Night South America, Buenos Aires to Valparaiso

14 Night Antarctic Cruise, Buenos Aires R/T

Let us CUSTOM DESIGN a SOUTH AMERICA CRUISE VACATION for YOU.

e-mail us: cpappin@cruisesinc.com to start planning YOUR cruise

Regent Seven Seas Inclusive Sale

Prices Increase October 1st

Book Regent Cruises NOW

With many 2010 cruises already sold out, time is running out to take advantage of Regent Seven Seas Cruises inclusive special offers. After September 30, 2009, prices will be increasing on nearly half of the voyages. Features of the sale include the following:

Unlimited Complimentary Shore Excursions

Free Air & 2-for-1 Fares

Additional $1,000 per guest savings

Guests will still be able to enjoy Unlimited Complimentary Shore Excursions and Included Air, but 2-for-1 Fares plus up to an additional $1,000 per guest savings will no longer apply on select 2010 cruises effective October 1, 2009.

Contact me NOW to book YOUR cruise as space is limited. Checking my inventory, I see that many cruises are already sold out, and some suite categories are already waitlisted!

Regent Seven Seas Cruise - Information & Itineraries

Offer expires September 30, 2009. Discounts and amenities are per person based on double occupancy. Additional terms and conditions apply - contact me for complete details.

Azamara Luxury Exclusive Sale Promotion

Azamara Luxury Sale Promotion
Receive UP to $500 in Onboard Credit

Click Here for Current Featured Cruise Sales

Book an Ocean View stateroom or above on any mentioned Azamara departure and receive UP to $500 in Onboard Credit (per stateroom). This is an exclusive WTH offer through September 30, 2009 . (click on the link above for more details)

Ocean View Staterooms - $200 Onboard Credit per stateroom
Veranda Staterooms - $400 Onboard Credit per stateroom
Suites - $500 Onboard Credit per stateroom

Select from Azamara Journey® 14-Night Transatlantic cruises between Miami and Barcelona or a 12-Night Caribbean cruise from Miami.

Select from Azamara Quest® 24-Night cruises between Athens and Singapore.

For itinerary details along with terms and conditions for this offer, see my website or give me a call to discuss. I'd love to help you plan a wonderful cruise aboard one of these luxury Azamara vessels.

Become a Fan on Facebook

Celebrity Xpedition - Galapagos - Great Offers

Galapagos Great Offers

Celebrity Xpedition

Take advantage of these special offers on October & November Sailings

If you haven't read my articles on our Celebrity Xpedition to Galapagos last year, I suggest you do so. I am often asked what my favorite cruise vacation is and my answer is usually "the one I'm on now". If you pressure me more, I will tell you that it was our Xpedition to the Galapagos.

One hundred fifty years ago, a man wrote about his quest that took him to a place where he would discover how life evolved thousands of years ago. You have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps and discover a land that is inhabited by species that can be found nowhere else on earth.

What do you think it was like to come face to face with a Red Marine Iguana or a Giant Galapagos Tortoise? What was it like seeing one of those cute Sea Lions or Galapagos Penguins?

You don't have to guess - you can find out for youself if you take advantage of one of the following special offers that Celebrity Cruises has announced.

Celebrity Cruises Itineraries & Pricing

Captain's Club Elite members receive 10% discount on a Celebrity Xpedition to Galapagos.

Celebrity Xpedition is an all-inclusive cruise vacation. Purchase the entire land/sea package and you can forget about doing any planning of daily activities. Your only decision will become do I want medium or high intensity activity in our next Galapagos island.

Celebrity Xpedition staff greets you at the airport in Quito, Ecuador and puts you on a motor coach to your nearby hotel. You explore Quito for two days before being escorted to the airport where you board a charter flight to Baltra, the starting point of your sea portion of the vacation.

Onboard the vessel, all meals and entertainment are provided as is the case on most cruises. In addition to that, you can belly up to the bar with your newly made friends for cocktails any time you want. It is hard to spend money onboard the ship. Most things are included except for items in the gift shop or a massage from the spa attendant.

Celebrity Xpedition was just refurbished, adding some additional cabins and sprucing up the ship. I think you will truly enjoy the improvements. I can't say enough about the ship's staff and naturalists - they are the best in the industry.

Call me today before the limited space is sold out.

Reflections on 9/11

May We Never Forget

September 11, 2001 is a day that we will never forget. It was our 25th wedding anniversary. We were on Norwegian Sun's maiden voyage which started the day before in Southampton, England for a Path of the Vikings Transatlantic voyage. The Sun was docked in Le Harve, France and we had taken a shore excursion to Paris. What could be more romantic than spending your anniversary in Paris, France?

We had a lovely lunch on a river cruise. We had done some shopping and toured the sites of Paris. It was now time to board our motor coach for the trip back to Le Harve to rejoin our vessel. While in one of the local shops, we'd heard some buzzing as the news of the days events had started to trickle in.

One of the passengers asked our French-speaking bus driver to turn on the radio. What happened next, I'll never forget. He started to make dive-bombing motions with his hands, trying to tell us about a plane crash. Even though we couldn't understand his speach, we started to understand that something tragic had taken place.

He changed the radio station and found one that was broadcasting in English. A pall fell over the bus as we heard the news. Most of the passengers were from the New York area since the cruise was to end in New York.

Back onboard the Sun, security was tightened and CNN was on all television sets throughout the ship. The mood went from festive (celebrating the new ship) to very somber.

The captain was one of the best we've had. He directed the staff to open the phone lines and internet for 48 hours so that every passenger could call home to check on loved ones. It was a very organized process that was implemented without any prior planning. Later in the week we learned that our disembarkation port was changed from New York to Boston and once again everyone was allowed to call home to inform family and friends of the change.

There were festivities planned for all our ports of call. In most cases, those still took place, but the opening remarks were concerning the attack. Every country we visited had their flags at half-staff in memory. All of the tour guides began their introductions by expressing condolences.

We had ports of call in New Foundland and Halifax, Canada. There we met folks that had taken stranded air passengers into their homes and fed them when the planes were grounded. Clearly the world had united in response to the events of 9/11.

Eight years have passed since that terrible day, but the memories are fresh as yesterday. We sailed out of New York on a couple recent cruises. We visited the site of the World Trade Center and saw the rebuilding and the various memorials. Reflecting on the past with a hope for a new rebuilding is perhaps the best way to remember.

When we pulled into Boston harbor at the conclusion of our maiden voyage, we were greeted by U.S. Coast Guard gun boats which escorted us safely into the harbor. It was good to be home but it was strange to have the military presence. The escorts continue to this day as the cruise lines and the government attempt to keep us safe from harm. It is everyone's duty to be watchful so that the events of 9/11 don't occur again.

Each of our cruises are memorable in some way. It seems that some cruises are remembered more than others. The maiden voyage of Norwegian Sun will remain one with very vivid memories.

Where in the World Does Celebrity Cruise - Vol. 5

The Baltic & Europe

Our next destination in our series on Where in the World does Celebrity Cruise in 2010/2011 is the Baltic and other European destinations, such as the Norwegian Fjords and Arctic Circle. You don't have to worry if you can't spare seven days or more. Celebrity has short cruises to Europe to accomodate your busy schedule!

Celebrity Cruises has two ships in this part of Europe in 2010, including the brand new Celebrity Eclipse. Your ship becomes your base of operations for exploring several European cities. You can marvel at the scenery in Norway or at the architectue in St. Petersburg, Russia. Visit the land of your ancestors and become enriched by the experience.

Celebrity Constellation®

7 Night Norwegian Fjords Cruise
05/09/10

Amsterdam, Holland • Oslo, Norway • Stavanger, Norway • Alesund, Norway • Bergen, Norway • Amsterdam, Holland

12 Night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise
05/16; 05/28; 06/09; 07/03; 07/15; 07/27; 8/22/09

Amsterdam, Holland • Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany • Stockholm, Sweden • Helsinki, Finland • St. Petersburg, Russia • St. Petersburg, Russia • Tallinn, Estonia • Copenhagen, Denmark • Amsterdam, Holland

12 Night Arctic Circle Cruise
06/21/10

Amsterdam, Holland • Alesund, Norway • Arctic Circle • Tromso, Norway • Honningsvag, Norway • Molde, Norway • Geiranger, Norway • Olden, Norway • Bergen, Norway • Amsterdam, Holland

8 Night Northern Europe & Mediterranean Cruise
09/03/10

Amsterdam, Holland • Brussels, Belgium • Cherbourg, France • Vigo, Spain • Lisbon, Portugal • Gibraltar, United Kingdom • Barcelona, Spain

Celebrity Eclipse SM

4 Night Cork Short Break Cruise
04/29; 05/03/10

Southampton, England • Cork, Ireland • Cork, Ireland • Southampton, England

14 Night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise
05/07/10

Southampton, England • Brussels, Belgium • Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany • Stockholm, Sweden • Helsinki, Finland • St. Petersburg, Russia • St.Petersburg, Russia • Tallinn, Estonia • Copenhagen,Denmark • Copenhagen, Denmark • Southampton, England

06/12/10

Southampton, England • Brussels, Belgium • Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany • Stockholm, Sweden • Tallinn, Estonia • St. Petersburg, Russia • St. Petersburg, Russia • Helsinki, Finland • Copenhagen, Denmark • Copenhagen, Denmark • Southampton, England

06/26/10

Southampton, England • Brussels, Belgium • Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany • Stockholm, Sweden • Helsinki, Finland • St. Petersburg, Russia • St. Petersburg, Russia • Tallinn, Estonia • Copenhagen, Denmark • Copenhagen, Denmark • Southampton, England

07/10/10

Southampton, England • Brussels, Belgium • Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany • Stockholm, Sweden • Helsinki, Finland • St. Petersburg, Russia • St. Petersburg, Russia • Tallinn, Estonia • Amsterdam (Rotterdam), Holland • Southampton, England

Let me help plan YOUR Baltic or Europe Cruise Vacation on Celebrity Cruises

Itineraries:

Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Constellation

Holland America 3 Day Sale

HOLLAND AMERICA 3-DAY SALE TIME

Sale ends Friday, September 11

at 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time

Select from any of the following destinations and a variety of eligible sailings (contact me for details - too many to list here):

Alaska Cruises & Cruisetours (May/June 2010 sailings)
Upgrade to an outside stateroom from $100 select sailings!

Great Land Klondike Cruisetours
Great Land Wilderness CruiseTours
Glacier Discovery CruiseTours
Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside on select sailings!


Asia (October/November 2009 sailings)
Upgrade to an outside stateroom from $100 select sailings!

Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific (Januaray - April 2010 sailings)
Upgrade to an outside stateroom from $100 select sailings!

Caribbean (October 2009 - January 2010 sailings)
Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside on select sailings!

Europe (October 2009 - May 2010 sailings)
Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside, or upgrade to an outside stateroom from $100 on select sailings!

Hawaii (December 2009 sailings)
Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside or upgrade to an outside stateroom from $100 on select sailings!

Holiday (December 2009 sailings)
Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside on select sailings!

Mexico (October 2009 - January 2010 sailings)
Upgrade to an outside stateroom from $50 – $100 on select sailings!

Panama Canal (October 2009 - February 2010 sailings)
Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside on select sailings!

South America October 2009 - April 2010 sailings)
Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside, or upgrade to an outside stateroom from $50 – $100 on select sailings!

The list of ships and special cruises are just too numerous to list. Contact me for complete details, but don't wait too long as these deals will go fast. You can also check my web site for a list of Holland America sailings.

Princess Cruises 3 Day Sale

First Ever Princess Cruises 3 Day Sale

September 10 - 12, 2009

Announcing 3 ways to save on Princess® cruises to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Panama Canal and the Mexican Riviera in Spring 2010 with our first-ever 3-Day Sale!

Book a Princess Cruise to one of these destinations during this limited-time event and receive:

Incredible Savings

• 7-day Caribbean & Mexico from only $499*
• 10-day Panama Canal from as low as $1,099*
• 14-day Hawaii from just $1,199*

Up to $100 "cash back" per Stateroom

• Up to $50 on 7-day sailings*
• Up to $100 on 10- to 19-day sailings*
  

FREE Balcony Upgrades*

• Balcony staterooms at Oceanview fares!*

Terms & Conditions: *Up to $100 "cash back" per stateroom refers to an onboard credit, applies to January-April Caribbean, Mexico, Panama Canal and Hawaii 2010 sailings and varies according to category booked and sailing duration. Passengers booked in an Interior or Oceanview stateroom on a 6-9 day voyage will receive an onboard credit of $25 per stateroom; passengers booked in an Interior or Oceanview stateroom on a 10+ day voyage will receive an onboard credit of $50 per stateroom; passengers booked in a Balcony stateroom or above on a 6-9 day voyage will receive an onboard credit of $50 per stateroom; and passengers booked in an Balcony stateroom or above on a 10+ day voyage will receive an onboard credit of $100 per stateroom. Reservations must be made and deposited between September 10-12, 2009. Deposits made under this promotion are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Offer is applicable to first/second-berth passengers only. Third/fourth-berth passengers are not eligible. Passengers with single occupancy will receive the per stateroom credit amount. Onboard credit may be used on a single voyage only and expires at the end of that voyage. Prior to disembarkation, please visit the Passenger Services Desk onboard to redeem any unused onboard credit. Offer is not transferable, is not combinable with other select offers or other onboard credits and applies to legal residents of the United States or Canada. Onboard credit is quoted in U.S. dollars. Void where prohibited by law.

Fares apply to minimum lead-in categories on a space-available basis at time of booking. Fares are per person, non-air, cruise-only, based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom. These fares do not apply to singles or third/fourth-berth passengers. Fares may remain at discounted level after this promotion. Government fees and taxes of up to $279.27 per person are additional, are subject to change and may be higher for Canadian residents. Princess reserves the right to impose a Fuel Supplement of up to $9 per person per day on all passengers if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel, even if the fare has already been paid in full. This offer is capacity controlled and may not be combinable with any other public, group or past passenger discount, including shipboard credits. Fares quoted in U.S. dollars. Ask about our optional air add-on program. See the applicable Princess Cruises' brochure or princess.com for terms, conditions and definitions that apply to all bookings. Please reference promotion code: R3D.

Princess Cruises Itineraries

Tropical Storm Linda Forms in Pacific

Chart Courtesy of NOAA: 800 PM PDT TUE SEP 08 2009 (Linda) <current charts>

Tropical Storm Linda

Forms in Pacific

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Another tropical storm has formed in the Pacific. We will monitor this storm until it is no longer tracked by the NHC. It appears that this storm should weaken within the next couple of days so we aren't expecting any severe weather or impact on cruise ships in the area.

UPDATE: 800 PM PDT FRI SEP 11 2009...LINDA NO LONGER A TROPICAL CYCLONE... LINDA CONTINUES TO WEAKEN... THE REMNANT LOW IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 5 MPH...8KM/HR... AND A SLOW MOTION TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS... THE LOW IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN FURTHER DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

This concludes are coverage of this tropical storm.

Local Weather Statements

<more details> <click for updated chart><NWS - Local Weather><NASA Hurricane Tracking>

Cruise Ship Tropical Storm Updates:

<CARNIVAL> <Norwegian Cruise Line> <Royal Caribbean>

It is too early for cruise line advisories on this storm, but you may want to bookmark this post for future reference.

Live Cruise Ship and Ocean Liner Tracking:

<Interactive tracking map> See where ships are relative to tropical storms.

Cruise lines will do everything to keep passengers and crew safe. A cruise is rarely cancelled because of weather, even hurricanes. The cruise lines monitor progress of any storms both in their main offices and onboard the vessels. They work closely with the various weather services, such as NOAA and NHC, to make determinations about itinerary deviations.

Continue to watch this post, I will provide updates as conditions change. If you are on a cruise this week in the area, be sure to monitor the storm closely.

Hurricane Fred - Second in Atlantic

Chart Courtesy of NOAA: 11:00 PM AST (Fred) TUE SEP 08 2009 <click for current chart>

HURRICANE FRED FORMS IN ATLANTIC
TRACKING THIS STORM

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Another tropical storm has become a hurricane in the Atlantic. This is the second hurricane of the 2009 season. We begin tracking this storm as it becomes a Category One hurricane. It is currently west-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands.

As a service to my clients and my blog readers, we'll provided continual updates on tropical storms and any cruise line advisories that are posted. For convenience, RSS feeds are also added so that you can get up-to-date information between posts. <NHC Active Storms>

1100 PM AST TUE SEP 08 2009... FRED BECOMES A HURRICANE...THE SECOND OF THE ATLANTIC SEASON...

UPDATE: 1100 AM AST FRI SEP 11 2009... FRED BARELY MOVING.... FRED WAS LOCATED ABOUT 740 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS...

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO 80 MPH... WITH HIGHER GUSTS... FRED IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WEAKENING...

This post will track Hurricane Fred until it is no longer tracked by the NHC.

Local Weather Statements

<more details> <click for updated chart>
<NWS - Local Weather>
<NASA Hurricane Tracking>

Cruise Ship Tropical Storm Updates:
<CARNIVAL> <Norwegian Cruise Line> <Royal Caribbean>

It is too early for cruise line advisories on this storm, but you may want to bookmark this post for future reference.

Live Cruise Ship and Ocean Liner Tracking:
<Interactive tracking map> See where ships are relative to tropical storms.

Cruise lines will do everything to keep passengers and crew safe. A cruise is rarely cancelled because of weather, even hurricanes. The cruise lines monitor progress of any storms both in their main offices and onboard the vessels. They work closely with the various weather services, such as NOAA and NHC, to make determinations about itinerary deviations.

Continue to watch this post, I will provide updates as conditions change. If you are on a cruise this week in the area, be sure to monitor the storm closely.

Cabo San Lucas Returning to Normal After Jimena

Cabo San Lucas

Escapes Hurricane Jimena

Hurricane Jimena had grown to almost category 5 as it beared down on the resort area of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Had the storm not weakened, very serious damage and loss of life might have occured. Fortunately, prayers were answered and this popular cruise destination was spared the wrath of Jimena.

Accoring to the Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau hotels and other tourism services throughout the area have resumed normal operations. “While we were well prepared for the storm, we are obviously very relieved that Hurricane Jimena passed us by,” says Gonzalo Franyutti, President of the Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau, “Now our guests can continue their vacations and enjoy our fine resorts and services without further concern.”

Cabo San Lucas is one of my favorite ports of call in the Mexican Riviera. The beautiful rock formations, such as Lands End pictured above, combined with blue skies and waters are the perfect sight for sore eyes. Several cruise lines include Cabo San Lucas as a port of call on one or more cruise itineraries.

If you like snorkeling, sun-bathing, swimming, kyaking, or simply strolling along a beach, then this destination will satisfy your needs. Catch a water taxi to Lovers Beach and pick your spot on the beach. If you like shopping, you can walk from the ship to the quaint stores along the port. There are plenty of local dining and drinking establishments nearby also if you just want to relax and do some people watching.

I invite you to explore Mexico on a cruise. Click for Itineraries.

Tropical Storm Erika Forms in Atlantic

Chart Courtesy of NOAA: 800 PM AST (Erika) TUE September 1, 2009
<more details> <click for updated chart>

Tropical Storm Erika Forms in Atlantic

Another tropical storm has formed in the Atlantic Ocean and is currently east of the Leeward Islands. Tropical storm watches have been posted.

As a service to my clients and my blog readers, we'll provided continual updates on tropical storms and any cruise line advisories that are posted. For convenience, RSS feeds are also added so that you can get up-to-date information between posts. <NHC Active Storms>

UPDATE: 200 PM EDT FRI SEP 4 2009... FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO... THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION ERIKA ARE LOCATED SOUTH OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO...

SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY HAS DECREASED OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS... AND THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF A SURFACE CIRCULATION. UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN UNFAVORABLE FOR RE-DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM AS IT MOVES SLOWLY WESTWARD AT 5 TO 10 MPH...

This post will track Tropical Storm Erika until it is no longer tracked by the NHC.

Local Weather Statements

<more details> <click for updated chart>

<NWS - Local Weather>

<NASA Hurricane Tracking>

Cruise Ship Tropical Storm Updates:

<CARNIVAL> <Norwegian Cruise Line> <Royal Caribbean>

It is too early for cruise line advisories on this storm, but you may want to bookmark this post for future reference.

Live Cruise Ship and Ocean Liner Tracking:

<Interactive tracking map> See where ships are relative to tropical storms.

Cruise lines will do everything to keep passengers and crew safe. A cruise is rarely cancelled because of weather, even hurricanes. The cruise lines monitor progress of any storms both in their main offices and onboard the vessels. They work closely with the various weather services, such as NOAA and NHC, to make determinations about itinerary deviations.

Continue to watch this post, I will provide updates as conditions change. If you are on a cruise this week in the area, be sure to monitor the storm closely.